Vehicle body building jig



9 Sheets-Sheet 1 John Mco/ J. NICOL VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG Filed Sept. 25, 1939 A @b A $7 III I Nov. 10, 1942.

Nov. 10, 1942.

J. NIC OL VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG Filed Se t. 25, 1959 Jo/m [V1601 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1942.

J. NICQL v 2,301,636

VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG,

Filed Sept. 25, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 H Jb/m M co/ 7. 4 3% 2 M vkW Nov. 10, 1942. N|QL Q 2,301,636

VEHICLE. BODY BUILDING JIG Filed Sept. 25, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ammo/1 a.

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VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG Filed Sept. 25, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 10, 1942. J. NICOL VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 25, 1939 Nov. 10, 1942.

VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG Filed J. NICOL 2,301,636

Sept. 25, 1939 9 Shuts-Sheet 7 Nov. 10, 1942. J NlCQL 2,301,636

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J. NICOL VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG Filed Sept. 25, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 VEHICLE BODY BUILDING JIG John Nicol, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Divco- Twin Truck Company, Detroit, Mich.,

poration of Michigan Application September 25, 1939, Serial No. 296,512

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to vehicle bod ies and is more particularly concerned with metal delivery vehicle bodies and low cost quantity production methods and apparatus for constructing such bodies.

As disclosed in Fageol Patent No. 1,877,653, bodies for chassisless buses and delivery vehicles have been built around templates shaped to define the desired contour of the body framework. In this prior method of constructing bodies, the individual structural elements defining the body framework are bent or shaped to follow the contour of the template, upon which they are clamped. Then the elements are welded or otherwise secured together. The various body framework parts thus formed are then separately secured to the body base frame upon which the engine and running gear are mounted.

While this prior art method of construction is satisfactory for the building of chassisless vehicles in which the body framework supports the engine and other mechanism, it is not particularly adapted for the low cost, quantity production of smaller delivery and like bodies which are mounted on separate chassis of more or less conventional type carrying the vehicle running gear, to which this invention is especially applicable.

In the present invention, I have devised a novel low cost method of constructing commercial vehicle bodies wherein various portions of the body are substantially completely assembled independently as units apart from the assembly line so as to speed up body building operations.

Although the invention will be described as applied to so-called standrive vehicle bodies which are especially designed to be fitted to a drop frame chassis, it is apparent that the constructional methods and apparatus disclosed herein are applicable equally well to bodies mounted on standard chassis and also bodies of vehicles of so-called ohassisless type.

With the above in mind, it is a major object of the present invention to provide novel methods of making vehicle bodies wherein separate body units are independently built upon separate accurately correlated jigs so that they later may be quickly assembled into a vehicle body. Specifically, the rear body floor, the body sides, the body front end, and the roof, are built on separate jig means as substantially integral units.

The jigs upon which these units are assembled parts of the various units so that the units may 55 be quickly fitted and attached to each other on the assembly line.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel, inexpensive, simple and efficient jig constructions for building the various body units in carrying out the novel methods of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel body side panel joint construction which is rust resistant and reenforces the panels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel vehicle body floor panel which is made of a suitable metal such as steel and preferably corrugated longitudinally to make it resistant to load stresses.

Further objects of the invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claim and the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the assembly line illustrating vehicle bodies in various degrees of completion according to the methods of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a jig used for positioning and assembling elements to be attached to the rear body floor panel. The clamp frame for holding the elements in position is shown in raised position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the jig of Figure 2 with the clamp frame lowered holding the elements in position to be secured upon the body floor panel;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the jig employed for assembling the body side units. This jig is employed for the left body side unit, the jig for the right side unit being merely reversed;

Figure 5 is a perspective View illustrating the job of Figure 4 with the structural elements comprising the skeleton frame of the body side unit clamped in position to be welded;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a jig similar to that of Figure 4 but designed for assembling the right body side unit, after the body skeleton frame has been welded and the body side panels have been clamped in position to be welded upon the frame;

Figure 7 is a section through a body side panel taken generally along the line l---! in Figure 6 illustrating the novel construction of the panel joint;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the jig means for clamping the elements of the front end assembly together to be welded into an integral unit;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a jig for holding the roof shell sections in position to be welded;

Figure in is a perspective view of a jig for clamping the front and rear headers and the side edge reenforcing strips to the roof shell after it has been welded together in the jig of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a further jig for completing the construction of the roof unit, including clamps for locating and holding the liners and roof bows;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner in which the roof is bolted to the top rail of each side unit;

Figure 13 is a section taken along line iii-l3 of Figure 12 illustrating the manner in which the roof bows are secured at opposite ends;

Figure 1a is an enlarged view in perspective illustrating suitable support and jig units for accurately spacing and locating the body side units and the front end units during assembly;

Figure 15 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the substantially complete body after the roof has been secured in place and the central windshield brace welded between the roof and front end units;

Figure 16 is a top plan View of a novel corrugated metal floor panel which may be employed in the rear body floor in place of the floor illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the metal floor panel of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a section taken along in Figure 16 illustrating the nature rugations in the floor panel;

Figure 19 is a section taken along line lie-43 in Figure 16 illustrating the manner in which the rear edge of the floor panel is sealed against the entry of dirt and dust; and

Figure 20 is a section taken along line 2il20 in Figure 16 illustrating the manner in which the front edge of the floor panel is supported and sealed against the entry of dust and dirt.

In general, each body unit is separately assembled upon independent jigs which are all designed to properly locate and hold the various elements comprising the respective units in position to be secured together in such a manner as to form uniform and interchangeable units that may be assembled rapidly and at low cost into substantially identical and interchangeable strong durable vehicle bodies.

These jigs comprise special racks or frames which are provided with suitable clamps for securely holding the elements together during bolting, welding or similar operations and these clamps are so located as not to interfere with such operations.

Each jib is adapted to present the unit in the position in which it may be most conveniently worked upon in the shop. Most of the jigs comprise tiltably mounted racks which are balanced, preferably by proper weight distribution, to enable the rack to be turned to any desired working position. In this manner the Work is speeded up since a workman can comfortably reach all parts of the unit with maximum efficiency.

According to the present invention the rear body floor, the ri ht and left body side units, the body front end and the roof after being independently built upon separate jigs, which are all designed and accurately corelated so as to produce body units which will accurately fit together, are quickly assembled on an assembly line such as that illustrated in Figure 1.

line ll8--i3 of the cor- Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates four stages in the assembly of the vehicle body, assembly takes place along the assembly line in the following sequential order:

First, the rear body floor indicated at H is mounted upon a travelling support l2 which is provided with suitable stops (not shown) for centrally locating the body floor. The support is then pushed forward to the second stage of the assembly Where the left and right body side uh its indicated at I3 and i4, respectively, are located in proper relation to the rear body floor and secured thereto. At the next stage, the front end unit if is secured in place between the front edges of the body side units. At the fourth stage, the roof unit indicated at it is bolted in place across the top of the body.

In describing the invention below, the manner in which each separate body unit is built upon its respective jig means will be described infdetail, and then the manner in which these various units are secured together upon the assembly line will be described in more detail.

Rear body floor assembly and jig Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the rear body floor assembly jig comprises a sturdy base frame I! provided at opposite ends with bearing members H3 in which are journaled stub shafts I9 p'rojecting from opposite ends of a jig rack" 2|. Base H is open at opposite sides to allow-free tilting of rack 2|, and an integral stop projection 22 is provided at one end of rack 2| for engaging the tops of opposite corner posts of the base frame as illustrated in Figure 2 for limiting rotation of the rack to approximately Preferably friction between shaft I9 and bearing support l8 and balanced distribution of the Weight of the rack are sufficient to maintain the rack tilted in any desired angular position" and, if desired, suitable means for holding the rack in such tilted position may be provided.

Rack 2| is provided with a transverse stop bar 23 for locating the front end of the rear body floor panel 24. Floor panel 24, in one embodiment, is made of laminated wood and is preferably cut to a desired pattern before being placed in the jig of Figure 2. g

Clamp frame 25 comprises a pair of longitudinal bars 21 and 28 journaled in blocks 29 mounted for limited vertical movement in suitable guides on posts 26 upstanding from rack 2|. This vertical movement is limited by stops (not shown) below the block and controlled by suitable springs 3| above the block so that body fioor units of different thickness} can be clamped upon the rack. f

In assembling the rear body floor units, clamp frame 25 is raised to the position shown in Figure 2 and the pre-cut laminated wooden floor panel 24 is laid upon rack 2!: in such a manner that its rear edge is pressed against the front edge of stop bar 23. Panel 24 is aligned laterally on the rack by means of stop bar 23 whose opposite ends are spaced a distance equal to the 21 and 23. Stops 35, distributed along the top,

Ishaft tunnel aperture 42 in panel 36. .is recessed at 43 to fit over a suitable threaded of stop bar 23, serves to correctly position angle 32 along therear edge of the floor panel.-

After cross sills 33 have been located in proper position, the rear cross panel of the stand drive through aisle, indicated at 36, is positioned at the end of the rack opposite from hinges 29 with its attachment flange 31 lapping the front edge ofpanel 24. Panel 36 is correctly located with with a rigid transverse bar 39 upon which is mounted an upstanding and forwardly projecting plate 4| adapted to extend through the propeller Plate 4| stud (not shown) on rack 2|. A suitable nut adapted to be tightened by wrench 48 holds the frame 25 in the position shown in Figure 3 and plate 4| is forced against panel 36 to maintain it in upright position as also shown in Figure 3.

Angle 32, the .panel engaging flanges 44 of "cross sills 33 and flange 31 are all preferably 'drill guides 46 are removably secured to the bars ,21. and 28. shifted to' any desired location along the bars,

These drill guides, which may be are provided for the purpose of locating and boring holes 41 which serve as drainage outlets for the floor panel as will later be described.

Bar 39 is provided'with a rigid loop 48 to which is attached a cable 49 for lifting and holding the clamp frame 25 above rack 2| prior to assembly and after the angle iron 32, cross sills 33 and. panel 36 have been bolted to the panel 24 as shown in Figure 2.

The various stops and clamps on the rack and clamp bar of the jig are designed to position angle 32, panel 36 and cross sills 33 in such relation that they will accurately interfit with corresponding parts of the frame or other body units to which they are to be attached upon the assembly line.

Body side unit assembly and jig A preferred form of jig for building the left body side unit is illustrated at Figures 4 and 5. This jig comprises a relatively heavy base 6| at whose opposite ends are provided bearing supports 62 carrying stub shafts 63 projecting from opposite ends of the jig rack 64.

A longitudinal beam 65 which extends generally parallel to shafts 63, but axially displaced therefrom, extends the full length of rack 64 and serves as a support for the rack frame ele-v ments upon which the body side unit skeleton elements are to be clamped and welded.

This rack frame comprises rigid transverse bars 66, 61, 68 and 68 which are all rigidly sup- .ported upon beam 65, as by generally identical projections '1I. Bars 61, 68 and 69 are designed to support the side door posts and the rear body post respectively of the body side unit. The upper ends of bars 61, 68 and 69 are bridged by a; roof rail support bar 12, and a front body end of bar 12 to the lower end of bar 66. The

lower ends of bars 61, 68 and 69 are bridged by a lower body'side rail support bar 14, an arcuate rear wheel housing angle support bar 15 and a clamp bar 16 extending from bar 15 to the lower end of the rear body post bar 69.

A front side window sill support bar 11 extends between bar 61 and the top end of bar 66; and, below bar 11, an arcuate front wheel housing angle support bar 18 and a short longitudinal clamp bar 19 extend between bars 66 and 61.

A longitudinal brace'bar 8| extends between bars 68 and 69 beneath bar 15, as shownin Figure 4. Between bars 68 and 69, beam 65 is provided with a plurality of upstanding posts 82, one of which is connected to bar 15 by a short transverse bar 83. All of the bars comprising the above described rack 64 are preferably welded or otherwise substantially integrally united so as to provide a rigid unitary frame upon'which the elements of the body side unit may be accurately positioned and secured together.

As a first step in building the body side unit, the elements comprising the skeleton frame thereof are clamped upon the above described rack as shown in Figure 5.

Roof rail 84 is secured upon bar 12 by means of a series of stop lugs 85 and spring clamps 86 pivotally supported upon bar 12. The rear body door post 81 is clamped in position by means of a series of arcuate spring clamps 88 on bar 69. Front body post 68 is clamped upon bar 13 by suitable clamps 9|, and the lower body side rail 92 is held by clamps 93 in position bridged between the rear and front wheel housing angles 94 and 95 which are clamped upon arcuate bars 15 and 18 respectively as by suitable clamp means 96 and 91 (Figure 4) respectively on those bars. A plate 98, comprising a. lower body side rail interconnecting angle 94 and the lower end of body post 81 is positioned and clamped upon bar 16 in a suitable manner.

Side door posts 99 and I8I are secured upon bars 61 and 68 respectively by identical elongated clamp jaws I 82 and I83 which are hingedly supported upon the lower sides of bars 61 and 68 respectively. Jaws I82 and I83 are resiliently mounted, as by springs I84, to compensate for different sizes of door posts or minor irregularities in the same. Posts 99 and I8I are precut to proper length to interfit snugly between rails 84 and 92 and are positioned to define doorway space of proper width by means of suitable adjustable stops I85 and I86 on bar 61 and the rigid stops I81 and spring clamps ||8 on bar 68.

Front window sill I88 is positioned on abutments 189 (Figure 4) projecting from bar 11 and is held thereon by the upper end of intermediate body post III which is firmly anchored 'to the rack by clamp II2, extending from bar 61, and clamp II3 (Figure 4) on bar 19. Panel brace I I4 is also bridged between posts 89 and 99, overlying post III, and being secured to the rack by suitable clamps |,I5 mounted on bar 11.

A longitudinal panel brace 6, adapted to be welded at its opposite ends to posts I81 and 81 is positioned and supported by posts 82, and this brace adapted to be midway of its length to the top of wheel housing angle 94 by a short post I I1. Brace I I6 and post 1 are securely held in position upon the rack by reason of bein interfitted between the clamped posts and wheel housing angle and the rack bars, or separate suitable clanps may be provided for the purpose as desire Posts 68 and 69 are adapted to be connected to I height with respect to the body floor during assembly as will later be described.

Rub rails I23, I23 and I25 are preferably laid upon the rack, in position indicated by suitable guide grooves or lines (not shown) before posts HM and 81 are positioned and are thereby held firmly in position beneath those posts when the latter are clamped in place. Rub rails I24 and I25 are adapted to be connected to brace H by a suitable strap I23 which is maintained in position for welding thereto by a suitable clamp I2"! outstanding from beam 65.

In the above described embodiment of the invention, a rack and clamping arrangement for assembling the skeleton frame of a body side unit of a delivery vehicle body of the type described in more detail in my copending application Serial No. 202,536, filed April 16, 1938, is set forth. The invention, however, is not limited to such specific construction and may be adapted for the construction of skeleton frames of any desired type. Moreover, any desired type of clamp means may be employed.

For practicing the invention, it is desirable that the rack be so balanced that it can be quickly turned and maintained in a given working position. Preferably, beam 65 is of such Weight as to substantially counter-balance the Weight of the rest of the rack including the frame unit clamped thereto.

At each end of the rack, a circular plate I28 having a series of circumferential apertures I29 is made rigid with stub shafts 63. A plunger guide I3I, rigid with base BI, is provided with a plunger I32 which may be inserted into any selected aperture I23 for maintaining rack 63 in a desired angular position for clamping and welding the various elements thereupon. Plunger I32 may be rendered inoperative merely by withdrawing it from apertures I29 and looking it, as by the bayonet sleeve arrangement illustrated in Figure 6.

Preferably the plane of assembly of the skeleton frame contains the line joining the axes of shafts 63.

Employing the above described apparatus, a workman can assemble the whole skeleton frame of the body side unit without unnecessary labor and from substantially a single position. By mounting the clamps on the rack, no time is consumed in searching for lost or misplaced clamps thereby speeding up the operation considerably. The welding operations can likewise be carried out in the same efficient manner and, since the rack is ti1tab1e,it is not necessary to employ long, cumbersome hoses in the welding equipment.

After the skeleton frame of the body side unit has been integrally united as by welding as above described, it can be stripped from the jig as a unit by merely loosening the clamps if desired. How- The body panels, which have been stamped into proper shape, are laid upon the skeleton frame in position for welding thereto. Care is taken to loosen all clamps that might interfere with this operation but sufiicient clamps are maintained operative to hold the skeleton frame firmly upon the rack. As shown in Figure 7, lower rear body panel I33 is substantially flat. Upper rear body panel I34 is formed with longitudinal moulding beads I35 and I36 and its lower end is reversely bent back upon its inner surface to provide a vertical tongue I31 designed to lap the upper edge of panel I33 and be welded thereto.

With the panels in position, their perimetral edges are peened over or otherwise bent to overlie adjacent skeleton frame elements as indicated at I38 in Figure 6 and clamp jaw I32 is set to bridge both panels as shownin Figure 6. The resilient mounting of jaw I32 enables it to be used for clamping the panels without injury to itself or the body unit.

Suitable vise blocks I39 and MI, upstanding from beam 65 adjacent the rear body post and the rear doorway post respectively, are adapted to receive opposite ends of a clamp strap I 42 designed to overlie bead I36 and insure tight engagement of tongue I37 and panel I33 during welding operations. Vise blocks I39 and MI may be manipulated to compress the panels to a desired degree and generally insure that the panels and the skeleton frame are maintained in position for welding. The rack may be quickly tilted through 183 to gain access to the interior of the unit for welding tongue I3! and panel I33.

Front body side panels I43 and I44 are laid on the skeleton frame to provide a lapped joint at hi3 and are held upon the frame by jaw I03 and by having their perimetral edges bent over the adjacent skeleton frame elements to which they are to be welded. 3

After completion of the panel weldingoperations all clamps are released and the completed body side unit is removed and ready for assembly upon the assembly line.

Front end assembly and fig The jig illustrated in Figure 8 comprises a support I35 for mounting a dash panel I 56, side cowl plates I47, and upper cowl plate M8 and a, lower windshield panel I49. Dash panel I46 is rigidly clamped to the side cowl plates by means of a pair of bars I5I and I52 whose opposite ends are interconnected by the threaded cranks I53 and I53 respectively. Dash posts I55 and IE5 are accurately located and pressed against the front surface of dash panel I45 by reason of their disposition in cut out portions of bar I52.

Windshield panel I49 is accurately centered in the assembly by means of suitable clamps I 51 extending upwardly, at opposite sides of the jig, from bar I5I. Suitable clamps (not shown) are also employed to secure an instrument board upon the inner side of the lower windshield panel. This instrument board is illustrated in Serial No. 262,536 and it is believed unnecessary to illustrate it in the present disclosure.

Cranks i233 and I53 are laterally positioned on support M5 in U-shaped guides I59 which enable the bars I5I and I52 to be lifted bodily over the top of the front end unit after it has been welded and the cranks have been loosened.

Side cowl plates I41 are each provided with a series of apertures I53 for bolting the unit to the front body posts and the side frame units as will be later explained.

Roof assembly and jigs Three jigs employed in progressive assembly of the roof unit are illustrated in Figures 9, andll respectively.

The sheet metal roof shell I6I is preformed, as bystamping, in three separate sections consisting of rear section I62, intermediate section I63 and front section I64. The jig illustrated in Figure 9 is designed to clamp these sections together for welding into a single integral roof shell and comprises a base I65 having upstanding posts I66 at'opposite sides provided with journal I61 for receiving pivot stubs I68 projecting from opposite ends of a tiltable jig rack I69. Rack I69 is of balanced design so that it can be easily and quickly manipulated and maintained in convenient working positions.

'At opposite sides of the rack, stubs I68 are provided with circular plates I1I each having a series of circumferential apertures I12 designed toreceive the plunger I13 slidably mounted in a guide I14 on post I66. Plunger I13 may be fitted intoxany of-aperturesl12 to retain rack I69 in a desired angular position.

Rack.I 69 comprises a pair of longitudinal side beams I15 whose opposite ends are connected by avy end beams ;I16-to provide a rectangular bedin which the roof shell sections are placed with adjacent edges lapped for welding. Satisfactory results have been obtained employing a tacit-bed wherein the shell sections are supported only;upon their edges by a suitable ledge running along the inner perirneter of the bed since the metal shell sections have considerable self-rigidity, but if desired a bed having its upper surface formed to the contour of the shell. sections may be employed to insure full surface support for the latter.

End beams I16 are spaced to define proper length for the roof shell and are provided with stop legs I11 for engaging the floor for supporting the rack in its maximum tilted position illustrated in Figure 9.

Roof section I62 is clamped to the rack bed we transverse beam I18 which is cut to fit snugly over the contour of the roof section and is held. at opposite ends by suitable adjustable clamps I19 .and I 8| which may be tightened as desired to hold roof section I62 firmly on the bed. Beam I18 is supported and guided at opposite ends by suitableblocks I82 rigid with the. rack in such a manner that, upon tightening of clamps I19 and I8I, beam I18 is advanced substantially normally to the roof section surface.

Roof section I64 is clamped to the bed by a l beam I83 which is similar to beam I18 and held atopposite ends by adjustable screw clamps I84 and I85. As shown at the top of Figure 9, one arm .offclamp I84 comprises a ratchet bar I88 which is adjustable in effective length to accommodate roof sections of different sizes. Clamps I19, I8I and I85. are preferably substantially identical with clamp I84.

. Roof section I63 is held on the rack with its opposite edges overlapping the other roof sections. A pair of rigid parallel straps I86 and I81 designed to follow the roof shell contour, extend across roof sections I62 and I83 respectively at opposite sides of the lapped joint. Straps I86 and I8! are provided at their opposite ends with integral hinge loops I88 and I89 respectively which are designed to be aligned with each other and a pair of hinge sockets I9I integral with a plate I92 secured upon the outer side of each side beam I15. Removable hinge pins I9I, maintain the straps closely against the roof shell surface at opposite sides of the lapped joint which is exposed for welding.

Similar straps I94 and I95 are provided to bind roof sections I63 and I64 at opposite sides of the lapped joint therebetween in such a manner as to leave the joint exposed for welding. Straps I94 and I95 are preferably locked at opposite ends by removal hinge pin assemblies I96 similar to that at I93.

Shell IGI, after removal from jig of Figure 9, is seated upside down in the jig bed I91 illustrated in Figure 10. Jig I91 comprises a pair of parallel side beams I98 and I99 bridged at one end of beam 20I and supported at a suitable height above the floor by legs 282. Side beams I98 and I99 are cut away intermediate their ends to provide arcuate surfaces 283 and 284 which are designed to be level with the opposite side flanges 285 and 286, respectively, of the roof shell.

flange 281 abuts again'st beam 28I. Angles 288,

rigid with beam I91, and clamp 289, pivoted on beam 28I, extend over flanges 285 and 281 to position the shell inits bed. At the open end of the bed, pivoted clamps 2H and. 2I2 are designed to engage projections 2 I 3 and 2 I4 of the shell (which are adapted to fit over the front body posts as will later be described) and hold the shell against of the shell, each header being welded to the roof flanges at the respective ends. I

Side flanges 285 and 286 are provided with rigid metal reenforcing strips 2I9 which, after being secured to the flanges as by bolts 22I, are then welded thereto. Before being attached to the roofflanges, strips 2I9 are preferably provided with depending spaced roof bow lugs 222, which are preferably welded thereto. Bolts 22I are removed after the welding operation.

After removal from the jig bed of Figure 10, the roof shell IBI is placed on a suitable soldering bench (not shown) where the Welded lapped joints between the roof sections are surface soldered, abraded and smoothed in such a manner as to provide a smooth,.continuous external sur face over the entire roof shell which is now an integral unit. This bench may be of any suitable design and illustration of the same isnot deemed necessary.

Roof shell I6I, with front and rear headers attached and the side flange reenforcing strips integrally united thereto, is placed in the jig bed 223 illustrated in Figure 11 after removal from the welding jig of Figure 10. Jig bed 223 comprises a generally rectangular frame made up of parallel side beams 224 and 225 and end beams 226 and 221. Side beams 224 and 225 are cut away intermediate their ends to provide arcuate surfaces 228' and 229 respectively following the contour of the roof shell side flanges, and end beam 226 is provided with suitable pivoted stop clamps 23I for locating and. holding the forward rear edge of the roof shell in the jig.

I93, when passed through aligned hinge parts I88, I89 and Referring to Figure 10, shell I6I is inserted from the' left side and advanced until its rear edge.

While positioned in jig 223, shellIBI is lined with a suitable insulating material 232 which is held in place by sheet metal roof liner strips 233 whose adjacent edges are bridged by roof bows 234. As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 each roof bow 234 is secured at opposite ends to lugs 22? by bolt and nut assemblies 235 or equivalent fastening means.

In order to quickly and correctly position and hold roof bows 234 in proper location to be bolted to lugs 222, jig 223 is provided at opposite sides with'aligned roof bow clamps. If desired a separate pair of clamps may be employed for each roof bow but I have found it preferable and more economical to employ only one pair of clamps which may be quickly shifted between suitable guide stations aligned with opposite ends of each roof bow.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 11, each side beam is provided with a pair of guide blocks 23% and 23'! defining slide guide sockets adjacent opposite ends of the cross bows for receiving suitable clamps 233 mounted on slide plates 239. Below each slide guide, each beam is provided with a projecting ear 24I having a threaded aperture for receiving the threaded end of the clamp screw 242.

Each slide plate 239 is provided with a pair of inwardly and downwardly projecting arms 243 terminating in a bridge bar 244 adapted to engage the roof bow. Screws 242 may be manipulated to draw roof bow 244-into conformance with the roof contour and align the bolt aperture at the end of each bow with the corresponding aperture in each lug 222. Bolts 235 are then put in place and the clamps movedto the next roof bow.

Ears 24| not only support each clamp in its slide guide but serve as reaction members for'the clamp screws. I have found it preferable to secure the roof bows inplace in order from right to left in Figure 11, the right handside of the rearmost liner plate being attached to the rear header 2'I8 by suitable screws 245' or the like. It will be understood that all bolt and screw holes in the roof unit are formed in thevarious members prior to assembly in the jigs.

After the roof bows have all been bolted into thereof unit, it is ready to be attached to the remainder of the body as will later be described.

Assembly of bodyunits With reference. to Figure v1,'the substantially complete floor unit, removed from the jig illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, is mounted upon travelling support I2 and centrally located thereupon by suitable stops (not shown) cooperating with the cross sills 33. Here the depending rear apron is; secured to the unit along angle 32, as by bolts-52.

A sheet metal floor covering 53, preferably of galvanized or rust proof metal, is then laid over panel 24. a Cover 53 is preferably bent over adjacent edges of'thepanel. especially at 54 adjacent the wheel housing apertures. A Water darn rim 55 is, then secured along the front edge of the panel and an inverted T-shaped, longitudinal ridge 56 is mounted centrally of the floor. Him 55 and ridge 56 are preferably secured upon the fioor by suitable screws, holes for which have been preformed in cover 53. Cover 53 has also been preformed with suitable drainage apertures 51, aligned over apertures 41 in panel 24, and with a cutl-out position 58 lying over the gasoline feed pipe hole in panel 24..

At the next station in Figure 1, side units I3 asoncse struction in the jigs of Figures 4-6 which insures that the lower end of the rear door post Illl will fit snugly against the rear surface of panel 36, to

be secured thereto by bolts 5d (Figure passing through suitable holes til (Figure 1) in the panel; and which also insures that the lower end of the rear body post 81 will interfit snugly with apron 5i, being attached thereto by bolts 59" passing th oughholes 59 in the apron.

During assembly'of the side units on the body floor, the former are correctly spaced'and braced laterally by means of suitable brace bars extending between opposite corner posts 81 and opposite rear door po'sts IiiI. These bars are preferably simply wooden beams cut to proper length to fit between the posts, and for purposes-of illustration one of them is indicated in dotted lines at 9B in Figure 1. A suitable overall clamp '(not shown) is preferably employed to embrace the upper edges of the side units and keep the latter compressed against the ends of the spacer bars. This clamp is removed immediately after the floor unit has been bolted to the side units.

Forwardly of the side doorwaysthe front edgesof the side units are spaced and aligned by a suitable jig 246 which also locates the front end assembly which has been assembled in the jig of Figure 8.

Jig24l6 comprises a series of transverse bars 2 51 adapted to extend between inner sides of the opposite front body posts and a series of vertical bars 248 whose lower ends are adapted to engage and position the front end assembly for height.

A central bar 249, rigid with the framework defined by bars 231 and 248, is provided at opposite ends with hinged blocks I for engaging the outer sides of the side units adjacent the front body posts as shown in Figure 14.. Blocks 248 and bar 249 are provided with cooperating screws 252. During assembly, screws 252 are manipulated to draw in the front edges of the side units until they are properly spaced as evidenced by firm abutment with opposite ends of bars 241.

After the front edges of the side units have been spaced correctly and securely clamped the front end unit of Figure 8 is advanced therebetween until its windshield panel flange I abuts the lower ends of bars 248. In this position side flanges I60 on the windshield panel are in position to be welded to the front body posts 89 while the side cowl plates are also properlylocated to be secured to posts 99 as by bolts passing through apertures I58. When the front end unit is secured in this manner it maintains the front edges of the side units properly spaced after jig 246 has been removed.

Front cross panel 253 of the stand drive aisle, with longitudinal channels 254 and 255, secured thereto, is secured across the lower ends of opposite front door posts 99. Channels, 254 and 255 are bolted at opposite ends to panel 253 and dash posts I and I56 respectively, being longitudinally aligned with the latter.

' apertures in the top side rails.

As shown in Figure 14, a short cross member 256 extends between channel 254 and a structural member, preferably post III, of the side unit. A similar cross member (not shown) is provided at the other side of the body. These cross members are correctly positioned for welding at opposite ends by means of a suitable flat gauge (not shown) fitting against panel 253.

With the side units and the front end unit in place the completed roof unit, as taken from the jig of Figure 11, is positioned across the top of the body. The roof side flanges 205 and 206 are first bolted to the top side rails 84 of the respective side units. Apertures 260 (Figure 11) in these flanges are spaced to align with similar Referring to Figure 12 which illustrates the joint between the roof and side units, a water ledge strip 251 is preferably inserted between the inturned roof flange 205 and the inturned edge of panel I34. Bolts 258, passing through holes 200 and aligned apertures in the othe elements and provided with suitable lock nut arrangements at 259, may be tightened to draw the joint elements into substantially water tight relation.

Projections 2I3 and. 2I4 of shell I6l fit in sleeve-like manner over the upper ends of front body posts 89 into abutment with upper edges of panels I34 to which they are welded after the roof unit has been bolted in place, as shown in Figure 15.

With the roof secured in position, assembly of the major portion of the body is completed by building in the central windshield brace 26I (Figure 15). A suitable jig (not shown, but similar to that illustrated in Figure 14 at 246) is employed to position and hold brace 26I centrally of the body with its opposite ends engaging the roof unit I6 and flange I50 of the lower windshield panel for Welding thereto.

After the windshield brace is welded into the body, the side doors (not shown) are attached in a suitable manner and the joints between panels I43 and I49 and panels I44 and side cowl plates I41 are welded and smoothed to make them water-tight and improve the appearance of the body front end. The body is then ready to be mounted upon a drop panel chassis such as that Modified rear body floor If desired floor panel 24, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, may be replaced bycorrugated metal (preferably steel) flooring inserts, one of which is illustrated at 262 in Figure 16.

Panel 262 is provided with front side flanges 263 (Figure 1'7) which may be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the inner front sides of the body side units and is formed with lateral wheel housing recesses 264 as illustrated in Figure 16.

Referring to Figures 16 and 18 the panel corrugations preferably extend longitudinally of the body and comprise parallel floor level portions 265 spaced by parallel recesses 266. The corru- Cir gation walls are substantially normally disposed with rounded corners and of a depth equal to about one half the width of each recess. It has been found that panels whose portions 265 are about one and one-half inches in width and are spaced by one inch wide recesses are especially suitable for steel vehicle body floors.

Projecting front floor corners 260 at opposite sides of panel 262 forwardly of the wheel housings may be made integral with panel 262 as illustrated, but preferably are provided as separate inserts. Similarly separate rear floor corner inserts of suitable shape and size may be provided behind the Wheel housing recesses at the rear corners of panel 262. Panel 262 and the other inserts are preferably secured in place by being spot welded to each other and adjacent chassis and body frame elements.

Figure 19 illustrates the manner in which the rear edge of panel 262 may be sealed against the entry of dust and dirt where it is supported by a suitable body cross sill 261. The open ends of the corrugations below floor portions 265 are filled in by means of suitably shaped blocks of sponge rubber 268 which seal the space between sill 261 and floor portions 265. Similar rubber blocks may be employed to fill in the ends of recesses 266 if desired, and all of the rubber blocks employed are preferably permanently bonded to adjacent metal surfaces by a suitable water proof cement.

As illustrated in Figure 20, the front edge of panel 262 rests on flange 31 of panel 36 to which it is bolted or otherwise suitably fastened. The open ends of the corrugations are preferably closed by a rigid metal strip 269 secured to panel.

36 and the joint further sealed by employing rubber filler blocks 2' similar to those at 268.

Substitution of the above described corrugated metal floor for the Wood and metal floor of Figures 2 and 3 does not change the methods of the invention, involving only a change in the specific manner of assembly of the rear body floor unit.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof; The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the ,meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

In a jig for building a vehicle body side unit, a stationary base, a rack tiltably mounted on said base comprising a longitudinal beam, axially aligned pivots on opposite ends of said beam, means on said stationary base supporting said pivots for rotation, the portion of said beam intermediate said pivots being offset from the axis of said pivots and therefore being offset from the axis of tilt of said rack, supports extending from said offset beam portion tow ard the axis of said pivots, a plurality of rack frame members mounted on said supports at such a location with respect to the weight of said offset beam portion and the axis of tilt of said rack that said offset beam portion acts as a counterbalance for said rack frame members, and a plurality of clamp devices on said rack frame members for holding structural elements of said side unit in assembled position.

JOHN NICOL. 

